Blackberry plant named &#39;Eclipse&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct blackberry cultivar that originated from seed produced from a cross between the female blackberry plant ‘ORUS 1393-1’ (unpatented) and the male blackberry plant ‘Triple Crown’ (unpatented). This new blackberry is unique in that it contains all three commercial blackberry types (trailing, erect, and semi-erect) in its pedigree as either a parent or a grandparent. This new blackberry cultivar can be distinguished by being early ripening for a semi-erect blackberry, by its medium-sized, firm berries with tough skin and very good flavor, by its medium to high yields borne on a vigorous plant with a semi-erect type growth habit and by its completely thornless canes.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘Eclipse’ is a blackberry plant that is Rubus subg. Rubus Watson.

Variety denomination: The new blackberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘Eclipse’ Rubus subg. Rubus Watson.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct blackberry cultivar designated ‘Eclipse’ and botanically known as Rubus subg. Rubus Watson. This new blackberry cultivar was discovered in Corvallis, Oreg. in August 2004 and originated from a cross between the female blackberry plant ‘ORUS 1393-1’ (unpatented) and the thornless, male parent blackberry plant ‘Triple Crown’ (unpatented). ‘ORUS 1393-1’ (unpatented) was a selection from a cross of the thornless erect blackberry ‘Navaho’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679) and a thorny trailing blackberry selection ORUS 1122-1 (unpatented). Therefore ‘Eclipse’ represents a unique pedigree with all three of the main types of blackberry used in breeding for commercial cultivars represented in its pedigree as it's paternal parent is a hybrid of an erect and trailing blackberry genotype and its maternal parent is a semi-erect blackberry. ‘Eclipse's spinelessness was originally derived from ‘Merton Thornless’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 571). The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated at a nursery in Benton County, Oreg. The new cultivar was established in vitro from a cane cutting and microcuttings have been taken and rooted from this sort of culture. The present invention has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Oregon. 1. High plant vigor as compared to semi-erect blackberry ‘Loch Ness’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,782); 2. Semi-erect growth habit with thornless canes; 3. Early date for 50% of ripe fruit compared to ‘Chester Thornless’ (unpatented) and ‘Triple Crown’ (unpatented) 4. Firm fruit with tough skin compared to ‘Triple Crown (unpatented); 5. Better flavor than ‘Chester Thornless’ (unpatented) and ‘Loch Ness’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,782); 6. Smaller, firmer, and more symmetrically shaped fruit than those for its sibling ‘Galaxy’ (plant patent applied for), that also ripens later.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new blackberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs that show the flowers, fruit and entire plants; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1. shows typical fruiting cluster with ripe fruit ‘Eclipse’ on a 2-year old plant.

FIG. 2. shows an entire flat of harvested ‘Eclipse’ fruit.

FIG. 3. shows two clamshells of ‘Eclipse’ fruit after 14 days of refrigerated storage at ˜1° C.

FIG. 4. shows an entire flowering 4-year old ‘Eclipse’ plant. As is typical for commercial production, semi-erect blackberry primocanes are topped at ˜1 m and the primocanes and laterals that develop after topping are tied to a two wire trellis with the lower wire approximately 1.0 m above the ground and the upper wire approximately 1.5 m above the ground.

FIG. 5. shows the thornless primocanes on a typical 2-year old crown of ‘Eclipse’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following description of ‘Eclipse’ is based on observations on 2- to 5-year old plants taken from 2012 to 2017 growing seasons in trials in Corvallis and Aurora, Oreg. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. ‘Eclipse’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Color terminology follows the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. London (R.H.S.) (5^(th) edition, 2007).

Table 1 shows important plant characteristics of the new cultivar. Characteristics include plant vigor, growth habit, date 50% of fruit were ripe, weight of primary fruit, firmness of fruit flavor of fruit and winter tolerance in Aurora, Oreg. (45° 16′ 49″ N/122° 44′ 50″ W) and Lynden, Wash. (48° 56′ 48″ N/122° 27′ 2″ W).

TABLE 1 Characteristic Eclipse Plant vigor High vigor, greater than Loch Ness, similar to Triple Crown and less than Chester THornless Growth habit Semi-erect Date 50% of fruit 2 Aug., early compared to Triple Crown and Chester were ripe Thornless Weight of primary 6.35 g, larger than Chester Thornless and smaller than fruit Triple Crown Firmness of fruit Excellent, firmer than Triple Crown and as firm as Chester Thornless Skin toughness of Excellent, better than Triple Crown and similar to fruit Chester Thornless Flavor of fruit Very good, better than Chester Thornless or Loch Ness Winter tolerance in Excellent (comparable to Triple Crown and Chester Aurora, Oregon Thornless) (45° 16′ 49″ N/ 122° 44′ 50″ W) Winter tolerance in Excellent (comparable to Triple Crown and Chester Lynden, Washington Thornless) (48° 56′ 58″ N/ 122° 27′ 2″ W)

Table 2 shows floricane and mature primocane characteristics of the new cultivar. Characteristics include diameter at base, diameter at midpoint, diameter at terminus, internode length at base, internode length at midpoint, internode length at terminus, presence of spines further than 0.6 m from the soil surface, presence of spines less than 0.6 m from the soil surface, floricane color at base, floricane color at midpoint, floricane color at terminus, floricane lateral length, floricane lateral strength, primocane color at base, primocane color at midpoint, primocane color at terminus, floricane length, and floricane length (range).

TABLE 2 Characteristic Eclipse Diameter at base 1.94 cm Diameter at midpoint 1.30 cm Diameter at terminus 0.22 cm Internode length at base 3.83 cm Internode length at midpoint 5.72 cm Internode length at terminus 4.55 cm Presence of spines further than 0.6 m Absent from the soil surface Presence of spine less than 0.6 m from Absent the soil surface Floricane color at base 144A Floricane color at midpoint 144A Floricane color at terminus 144B FLoricane lateral length Medium-long Floricane lateral strength Medium Primocane color at base 144A blushed with 166A Primocane color at midpoint 143C blushed with 200A Primocane color at terminus 144B blushed with 183A Floricane length 2.46 m Floricane length (range) 1.38-3.00 m

Table 3 shows primocane foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Primocane characteristics include mature compound leaf width, mature compound leaf length, number of leaflets per primocane compound leaf, mature leaflet shape, mature leaflet apex, mature leaflet base, mature terminal leaflet width, mature terminal leaflet length, mature first lateral leaflet width, mature first lateral leaflet length, leaflet margin, leaflet serration teeth length, leaflet serration teeth width at base, spine presence on leaves, pubescence on primocane leaflet: upper surface, pubescence on primocane leaflet: undersurface, primocane leaf color abaxial, primocane leaf color adaxial, petiole length, petiole color: upper surface, petiole color: undersurface, petiolule length: terminal leaflet, petiolule length: first distal leaflet, petiolule color: abaxial, petiolule color: adaxial, stipule length, stipule width, and stipule attitude.

TABLE 3 Characteristic Eclipse Mature compound leaf width 25.90 cm Mature compound leaf length 22.72 cm Number of leaflets per primocane 5 compound leaf Mature leaflet shape Oval; some orbicular Mature leaflet apex Abruptly acuminate Mature leafelt base Acute Mature terminal leaflet width  9.50 cm Mature terminal leaflet length 12.47 cm Mature first lateral leaflet width  7.77 cm Mature first lateral leaflet length 11.25 cm Leaflet margin Doubly serrate Leaflet serration teeth length  0.26 cm Leaflet serration teeth width at base  0.70 cm Spine presence on leaves No Pubescence on primocane leaflet: upper None surface Pubescence on primocane leaflet: Yes, light undersurface Primocane leaf color abaxial N137B Primocane leaf color adaxial 137B Petiole length  6.77 cm Petiole color: upper surface 145B strongly blushed with 187A Petiole color: undersurface 145B blushed with 187A Petiolule length: terminal leaflet  3.55 cm Petiolule length: first distal leaflet  2.20 cm Petiolule color: abaxial 145B blushed with 187A Petiolule color: adaxial 145B blushed with 187A Stipule lenght  1.84 cm Stipule width  0.08 cm Stipule attitude Erect

Table 4 shows floricane foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Floricane characteristics include mature compound leaf width, mature compound leaf length, number of leaflets per floricane compound leaf, mature leaflet shape, mature leaflet apex, mature leaflet base, mature terminal leaflet width, mature terminal leaflet length, mature first lateral leaflet width, mature first lateral leaflet length, leaflet margin, leaflet serration teeth length, leaflet serration teeth width at base, pubescence on floricane leaflet: upper surface, pubescence on floricane leaflet: undersurface, floricane leaf color abaxial, floricane leaf color adaxial, petiole length, petiolule length: terminal leaflet, petiolule length: first distal leaflet, petiolule color: abaxial, petiolule color: adaxial, stipule length, and stipule width.

TABLE 4 Characteristic Eclipse Mature compound leaf width 17.37 cm Mature compound leaf length 11.32 cm Number of leaflets per floricane compound leaf 2-5, typically 3 Mature leaflet shape Ovate Mature leaflet apex Broadly acute Mature leaflet base Acute Mature terminal leaflet width 7.33 cm Mature terminal leaflet length 9.70 cm Mature first lateral leaflet width 6.87 cm Mature first lateral leaflet length 9.00 cm Leaflet margin Doubly serrate Leaflet serration teeth length 0.35 cm Leaflet serration teeth width at base 0.43 cm Pubescence on floricane leaflet: upper surface Light Pubescence on floricane: leaflet undersurface Heavy Floricane leaf color abaxial N137A FLoricane leaf color adaxial N138B Petiole length 4.42 cm Petiole color adaxial 144A Petiole color abaxial 144D Petiolule length terminal leaflet 1.7 cm Petiolule length first distal leaflet 1.89 cm Petiolule color abaxial 144A Petiolule color adaxial 144C Stipule length 1.15 cm Stipule width 0.18 cm

Table 5 shows flower and flowering characteristics of the new cultivar. Flower and flowering characteristics include date 1st bloom, date full bloom, date last bloom, petal color, the number flowers per cluster, the number of petals per flower, flower diameter, petal length, petal width, and the number of sepals per flower.

TABLE 5 Characteristic Eclipse Date 1^(st) bloom 10 May Date full bloom 27 May Date last bloom 3 Jun Petal color NN155B Number flowers per cluster 7.87 Number of petals per flower 5.22 Flower diamteter  3.28 cm Petal length  1.47 cm Petal width  1.12 cm Number of sepals per flower 5 Peduncle length 17.87 cm Rachis length 14.43 cm Peduncle color N144A Cyme type Simple raceme

Table 6 shows fruit and fruiting characteristics of the new cultivar. Fruit and fruiting characteristics include date 5% of fruit were ripe, date 50% of fruit were ripe, date 95% of fruit were ripe, weight of primary fruit, weight of secondary fruit, diameter of primary fruit at equator, diameter of 2° fruit at equator, diameter of 1° fruit at poles: tip, diameter of 1° fruit at poles: base, diameter of 2° fruit at poles: tip, diameter of 2° fruit at poles: base, berry length 1° fruit, berry length 2° fruit, ratio of primary fruit length to width, shape description, uniformity of berry shape, color when full ripe, number of drupelets per fruit, individual seed weight, glossiness, firmness, flavor, texture of fruit when chewed, drupelet skin resistance to abrasion, ease of separation of fruit from pedicel, machine harvestability, resistance to heat damage of fruit, berries per inflorescence—mean, berries per inflorescence range, soluble solids (%; in Brix), pH, titratable acidity (% as citric acid), yield (actual kg·plt⁻¹), disease response, and red berry mite response.

TABLE 6 Characteristic Eclipse Date 5% of fruit were ripe 18 Jul. Date 50% of fruit were ripe 2 Aug. Date 95% of fruit were ripew 24 Aug. Weight of primary fruit 6.35 g Weight of secondary fruit 6.13 g Weight of tertiary fruit 5.55 g Diameter of primary fruit at equator 1.73 cm Diameter of 2° fruit at equator 1.99 cm Diameter of 3° fruit at equator 1.89 cm Diameter of 1° fruit at poles: tip 0.94 cm Diameter of 1° fruit at poles: base 1.63 cm Diameter of 2° fruit at poles: tip 0.92 cm Diameter of 2° fruit at poles: base 1.78 cm Diameter of 3° fruit at poles: tip 1.17 cm Diameter of 3° fruit at poles: base 1.56 cm Berry length primary fruit 2.58 cm Berry length 2° fruit 2.72 cm Berry length 3° fruit 2.52 cm Ratio of primary fruit length to width  1.48 Shape description Conical to barrel, slightly irregular Uniformity of berry shape Good Color when full ripe 203C Number of druplets per fruit 88.67 Total seed weight per fruit 222.92 mg Individual seed weight 2.52 mg Glossiness Glossy Firmness Very firm Flavor Very good Texture of fruit when chewed Fair-good Druplet skin resistance to abrasion Excellent Ease of separation of fruit from Fair pedicel Machine harvestability Fair Resistance to heat damage of fruit Sweet Berries per inflorescence-mean  6.33 Berries per inflorescence range 5-9 Soluble solids (%; in Brix) 13.85 pH  3.37 Titratable acidity (% as citric acid)  9.90 Yield (actual kg · plt⁻¹)  6.93 Disease response Under a typical, minimal, disease management program does not exhibit any particular disease problems Red berry mite (Acalitus essigi) Susceptible but fewer symptoms response than on Triple Crown

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Eclipse’ differs from the female parent blackberry plant ‘ORUS 1393-1’ (unpatented) in that ‘Eclipse is thornless and the fruit have a sweet, pleasant flavor and are more uniformly shaped, while ‘ORUS 1393-1’ has thorny canes and the fruit are slightly bitter and the drupelets are unevenly set.

‘Eclipse’ differs from the male parent blackberry plant ‘Triple Crown’ (unpatented) in that it is earlier ripening (50% ripe fruit on 2 August) with medium sized (6.35 g) fruit that are firm with a tough skin, while ‘Triple Crown’ (unpatented) is mid-season ripening (16 August) with large (7.50 g) fruit that are soft with tender skin.

‘Eclipse’ is earlier ripening than other commercial semi-erect blackberries such as ‘Triple Crown’ (unpatented) or ‘Chester Thornless’ (unpatented). ‘Eclipse’ ripens in a similar season to the semi-erect blackberry ‘Loch Ness’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,782) but is more vigorous growing and has firmer fruit with a sweeter flavor. ‘Eclipse’ is not typically as high yielding as ‘Chester Thornless’ (unpatented) or ‘Triple Crown’ (unpatented). The fruit of ‘Eclipse’ are firm and have a tough skin like those of ‘Chester Thornless’ (unpatented) and are firmer and much tougher skinned than ‘Triple Crown’ (unpatented) fruit. ‘Eclipse’ fruit are sweeter than ‘Chester Thornless’ (unpatented) fruit due to higher percent soluble solids and lower titratable acidity and pH. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of thornless blackberry plant, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by its medium sized fruit that are sweet, firm and have a tough skin and that ripen earlier than most semi-erect blackberry cultivars. 